Elemental Analysis Applications
Elemental Analysis

Food Safety



Food safety testing is a vital precaution necessary to prevent foodborne illnesses, and is a fundamental safety measure in production, storage, handling, and preparation of food. Accurate analysis of food for nutritional content, contamination, or authenticity (i.e. determining the geographic source of the product) is critical for regulation and quality assurance. The main concern for foodstuff producers and manufacturers is the ever-present threat of food contamination by both chemical contaminants such as arsenic, mercury, lead and pesticides, and pathogens such as Hepatitis A, Salmonella, E. coli, and Norovirus. Thus, it is of utmost importance that they are able to ensure the safety of raw ingredients, test for consistency and conformity in processed foods and beverages, and meet unique regulatory requirements.

With increasingly stricter safety protocols and regulations in the field of food safety, manufacturers and distributors will be required to analyze an ever-increasing number of samples. Aurora’s products facilitate the workflow of safety analysts by: ensuring accurate sampling, automating sample preparation and providing accurate analysis with efficient data management. VERSA automated liquid handling workstations are used to prepare many liquid samples for downstream analysis. The TRANSFORM series of microwave digestion systems digest samples for further food safety testing. Aurora’s LUMINA 3300 atomic fluorescence spectrometer (AFS) and TRACE atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) accurately detect heavy metals such as mercury and lead in prepared samples. There are many examples of food safety applications that are currently being carried out using our products, including detecting mercury in milk powder by AFS, lead in drinking crates using AAS, and digesting various samples such as biscuits or fish meat with a microwave for downstream analysis.

Food safety is always something that is thought about when discussing how to improve the quality of life for people in both developed and developing countries. In the USA alone, 15 different agencies are involved in food monitoring, including the Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As each of these agencies have their own regulatory standards to test for food contamination, it is vital that the equipment used in foodstuff testing is accurate, precise, and versatile. Aurora offers a full range of solutions that are able to meet the all the requirements of those in charge of food safety testing and regulatory compliance.